As You Like It

William Shakespeare

Plot Overview

Analysis of Major Characters

Rosalind -
The
daughter of Duke Senior. Rosalind, considered one of Shakespeare’s
most delightful heroines, is independent minded, strong-willed,
good-hearted, and terribly clever. Rather than slink off into defeated
exile, Rosalind resourcefully uses her trip to the Forest of Ardenne
as an opportunity to take control of her own destiny. When she disguises
herself as Ganymede—a handsome young man—and offers herself as a
tutor in the ways of love to her beloved Orlando, Rosalind’s talents
and charms are on full display. Only Rosalind, for instance, is
both aware of the foolishness of romantic love and delighted
to be in love. She teaches those around her to think, feel, and
love better than they have previously, and she ensures that the
courtiers returning from Ardenne are far gentler than those who fled
to it.

Orlando -
The
youngest son of Sir Rowland de Bois and younger brother of Oliver.
Orlando is an attractive young man who, under his brother’s neglectful
care, has languished without a gentleman’s education or training. Regardless,
he considers himself to have great potential, and his victorious
battle with Charles proves him right. Orlando cares for the aging
Adam in the Forest of Ardenne and later risks his life to save Oliver from
a hungry lioness, proving himself a proper gentleman. He is a fitting
hero for the play and, though he proves no match for her wit or
poetry, the most obvious romantic match for Rosalind.

Duke Senior -
The
father of Rosalind and the rightful ruler of the dukedom in which
the play is set. Having been banished by his usurping brother, Frederick,
Duke Senior now lives in exile in the Forest of Ardenne with a number
of loyal men, including Lord Amiens and Jaques. We have the sense
that Senior did not put up much of a fight to keep his dukedom,
for he seems to make the most of whatever life gives him. Content
in the forest, where he claims to learn as much from stones and
brooks as he would in a church or library, Duke Senior proves himself
to be a kind and fair-minded ruler.

Jaques -
A
faithful lord who accompanies Duke Senior into exile in the Forest
of Ardenne. Jaques is an example of a stock figure in Elizabethan
comedy, the man possessed of a hopelessly melancholy disposition.
Much like a referee in a football game, he stands on the sidelines, watching
and judging the actions of the other characters without ever fully
participating. Given his inability to participate in life, it is
fitting that Jaques alone refuses to follow Duke Senior and the
other courtiers back to court, and instead resolves to assume a
solitary and contemplative life in a monastery.

Celia -
The
daughter of Duke Frederick and Rosalind’s dearest friend. Celia’s
devotion to Rosalind is unmatched, as evidenced by her decision
to follow her cousin into exile. To make the trip, Celia assumes
the disguise of a simple shepherdess and calls herself Aliena. As elucidated
by her extreme love of Rosalind and her immediate devotion to Oliver,
whom she marries at the end of the play, Celia possesses a loving
heart, but is prone to deep, almost excessive emotions.

Duke Frederick -
The
brother of Duke Senior and usurper of his throne. Duke Frederick’s
cruel nature and volatile temper are displayed when he banishes
his niece, Rosalind, from court without reason. That Celia, his own
daughter, cannot mitigate his unfounded anger demonstrates the intensity
of the duke’s hatefulness. Frederick mounts an army against his
exiled brother but aborts his vengeful mission after he meets an
old religious man on the road to the Forest of Ardenne. He immediately
changes his ways, dedicating himself to a monastic life and returning
the crown to his brother, thus testifying to the ease and elegance
with which humans can sometimes change for the better.

Touchstone -
A
clown in Duke Frederick’s court who accompanies Rosalind and Celia
in their flight to Ardenne. Although Touchstone’s job, as fool,
is to criticize the behavior and point out the folly of those around
him, Touchstone fails to do so with even a fraction of Rosalind’s
grace. Next to his mistress, the clown seems hopelessly vulgar and
narrow-minded. Almost every line he speaks echoes with bawdy innuendo.

Oliver -
The
oldest son of Sir Rowland de Bois and sole inheritor of the de Bois
estate. Oliver is a loveless young man who begrudges his brother,
Orlando, a gentleman’s education. He admits to hating Orlando without
cause or reason and goes to great lengths to ensure his brother’s
downfall. When Duke Frederick employs Oliver to find his missing
brother, Oliver finds himself living in despair in the Forest of
Ardenne, where Orlando saves his life. This display of undeserved
generosity prompts Oliver
to change himself into a better, more loving person. His transformation
is evidenced by his love for
the disguised Celia, whom he takes to be a simple shepherdess.

Silvius -
A
young, suffering shepherd, who is desperately in love with the disdainful
Phoebe. Conforming to the model of Petrarchan love, Silvius prostrates
himself before a woman who refuses to return his affections. In
the end, however, he wins the object of his desire.

Phoebe -
A
young shepherdess, who disdains the affections of Silvius. She falls
in love with Ganymede, who is really Rosalind in disguise, but Rosalind
tricks Phoebe into marrying Silvius.

Lord Amiens -
A
faithful lord who accompanies Duke Senior into exile in the Forest
of Ardenne. Lord Amiens is rather jolly and loves to sing.

Charles -
A
professional wrestler in Duke Frederick’s court. Charles demonstrates
both his caring nature and his political savvy when he asks Oliver
to intercede in his upcoming fight with Orlando: he does not want
to injure the young man and thereby lose favor among the nobles
who support him. Charles’s concern for Orlando proves unwarranted
when Orlando beats
him senseless.

Adam -
The
elderly former servant of Sir Rowland de Bois. Having witnessed
Orlando’s hardships, Adam offers not only to accompany his young
master into exile but to fund their journey with the whole of his
modest life’s savings. He is a model of loyalty and devoted service.

Sir Rowland de Bois -
The father of Oliver and Orlando, friend of Duke
Senior, and enemy of Duke Frederick. Upon Sir Rowland’s death, the
vast majority of his estate was handed over to Oliver according
to the custom of primogeniture.

Corin -
A
shepherd. Corin attempts to counsel his friend Silvius in the ways
of love, but Silvius refuses to listen.

RITUPARNA RAY CHAUDHURI(SHEHANAZ)
‘AS YOU LIKE IT’- WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
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AS YOU LIKE IT IS A SHAKESPEARE'S ROMANTIC COMEDY, BLENDING WITH LOVE-HEROISM-SENTIMENT-ADVENTURE-AND PURE FUN. THE FOREST IS MERELY A GOLDEN WORLD, BUT ITS CONTENTMENT HAS DEALT OF THE BITTER LESSONS OF LIFE. (DR.S.SEN)
PRONOUNCE THE WORD 'ARDEN'-PERHAPS A PUN BY PRONOUNCING IT A-DEN-- A FOLIAGE OF MATERIALISTIC WORLD.
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